Box construction

ABSTRACT

A box construction including a wall member surrounding a first panel member. The wall member is provided with flanges extending inwardly on either side of the first panel member, the latter being held against one of the flanges by locating members. A second panel member is slideably inserted between the other of the flanges and the locating members. A second panel member cooperates with the wall member and the first panel member to fully enclose the interior of the box.

United States Patent [72] Inventors George G. Bergh;

Robert G. Bergh, both of North Attleboro, Mass. [21] Appl. No. 852,206 [22] Filed Aug. 22, 1969 [45] Patented Dec. 28, 1971 [73] Assignee Bergh Bros. Co., Inc.

Attleboro Falls, Mass.

[54] BOX CONSTRUCTION 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 206/45-14, 206/4531, 220/41 [51] Int. Cl ..B65d 25/10, B65d 43/12 {50] Field of Search 206/4514. 45.19, 65 104531, 46 F, 46 FR, 45.34; 220/41 4; 217/62, 63

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,848,849 3/1932 Stone 206/65 R UX Primary Examiner- Leonard Summer Arlomey-Chittick, Pfund, Birch, Samuels & Gauthier ABSTRACT: A box construction including a wall member surrounding a first panel member. The wall member is provided with flanges extending inwardly on either side of the first panel member, the latter being held against one of the flanges by locating members. A second panel member is slideably inserted between the other of the flanges and the locating members. A second panel member cooperates with the wall member and the first panel member to fully enclose the interior of the box.

mcmtnubzm SHEET 1 0F 2 FIG. 2

INVENTORS GEORGE G. BERGH ROBERT G. BERGH A W 53 W ATTORNEYS BOX CONSTRUCTION DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to a box construction, and in particular to the type of decorative box employed to contain and/or display jewelry, writing implements and other like articles.

The box construction of the present invention is comprised basically of a pair of spaced panel members which cooperate with a continuous wall member to enclose a space suitably dimensioned to accommodate a given article. One or more of the panel members may, if desired, be fabricated of a transparent material, and the wall member is preferably fabricated of a decorative material, the resulting combination being functional as well as attractive.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved means for removably mounting one of the panel members on the wall member, without employing relatively expensive components such as hinges and latches, and without detracting from the overall decorative appearance of the resulting combination This is accomplished by employing a wall member having inwardly disposed flanges which cooperate with interior locating members to hold one panel member against one of the wall flanges. The other panel member is slideably inserted between the locating members and the other wall flange to fully enclose the box interior. This combination embodies a number of advantages not provided by known prior art constructions. For example, by avoiding the use of hinges and latches, the overall cost of the resulting box combination is reduced while at the same time simplifying its assembly. Also, the absence of hinges and latches markedly enhances the overall decorative appearance of the box.

Another object of the present invention is to provide improved means for displaying the article contained in the box. This is accomplished by supporting the article in a position spaced laterally from both panel members, one or both of which may be fabricated of a transparent materiaL This arrangement lends a three-dimensional effect to the box construction which is particularly suited to the containment and display of small items, such as jewelry, writing implements, etc. When one of the panel members is transparent and the other opaque, the displayed article has the appearance of being suspended in mid air. This effect is heightened by employing two transparent panels, with the added advantage that opposite sides of the displayed article can be viewed without removing the article from the box.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a box constructed in accordance with the present invention, with one panel member slideably positioned in a partially opened position;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the box construction shown in FIG. 1 with the slideable panel member in the fully closed position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along lines 55 of FIG. 4 with the slideable panel member in the fully closed position.

Referring initially to FIGS. l3, there is shown a box construction l0 comprised in part of a wall member 12 having parallel side sections 12a and 12!; joined by oppositely disposed parallel end sections 12c and 12d. Flanges l4 and 16 extend inwardly from and in the embodiment herein shown are substantially coextensive with the upper and lower edges of the wall member 12. The wall member surrounds a first panel member 18, the latter having its edges vertically located between the wall flanges l4 and 16. Panel member 18 is held against flange 16 by locating members 20. The inwardly disposed surfaces of the locating members may take on any convenient shape to accommodate the article being displayed.

As can be best seen by reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, flange 14 is indented at oppositely disposed locations as at 22 adjacent to the end sections 12c of wall member 12. The indentations 22 are suitably arranged and dimensioned to accommodate slideable insertion of a second panel member 24 between flange l4 and the locating members 20. At this point it will be understood that the locating members 20 should preferably have some resiliency. This will allow the locating members to cooperate initially with the wall flanges l4 and 16 in securing panel 18 relative to wall member 12, and to thereafter compress slightly when the second panel member 24 is slideably inserted into place. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the second panel member 24 is fully inserted, the box interior 26 is completely enclosed and one end 24 of the panel member overlaps the section of flange 14 extending inwardly from the end section 12c of the wall member. When thus positioned, the panel member 24 is frictionally held between flange l4 and the underlying surfaces of locating members 20. Removal of the panel member is facilitated by the overlap of its end at 24' relative to flange 14.

As previously indicated, this construction obviates the need for hinges, latches, etc. in order to provide a means for removing or opening one of the panel members.

' With further reference to FIGS. l-3, it will be seen that the locating members 20 are suitably adapted, such as by the location of recesses at oppositely disposed points as at 28, to support the ends of an article, herein shown for illustrative purposes as a pencil 30. The pencil is thus suspended between panels 18 and 24, one or both of which may be fabricated of transparent material. This arrangement provides a threedimensional effect which enhances the overall appearance of the box construction while providing an improved means for displaying the article contained therein.

A slightly modified form of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. Here, a box construction 32 is again provided with a continuous wall 34 having inwardly disposed flanges 36 and 38 coextensive with the edges thereof. A first transparent panel 40 is held against flange 36 by means of locating members 42. The other flange member 38 is again indented as at 44 to accommodate slideable insertion of a second transparent panel member 46 between the locating members 42 and flange 38. To this extent, box construction 32 is substantially similar to the box construction 10 previously described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 3. The primary difference between both constructions lies in the means employed to support articles contained within the box. More particularly, in the construction shown in F IGS. 4 and 5, an intermediate article-supporting member 46 extends across the interior of the box with its ends connected to oppositely disposed locating members 42 as at 48. The intermediate member 46 extends between and is spaced from both panel members 40 and 46. Hence, any articles mounted thereon, such as for example the earrings 50 shown in FIG. 4, will again be displayed in an attractive threedimensional arrangement. With both panels 40 and 46 being fabricated of a transparent material, both sides of the earrings can be viewed without opening the box.

In view of the foregoing, it will now be apparent to those skilled in the art that a number of modifications may be made to the embodiments herein disclosed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, one or both of the panel members employed in conjunction with the continuous wall member may be fabricated of transparent and/or opaque material, depending on the intended use of the resulting box combination. The box combination can assume a wide variety of shapes, it being understood however that at least two parallel sides should be provided in order to accommodate sliding insertion and removal of one of the panel members. Also, the wall member can be fabricated of a single elongated piece, or in the alternative, the wall member can be assembled from a plurality of pieces. It will also be understood that the means for adapting one of the flanges to accommodate slideable insertion of a panel member can take any one of a number of forms, including for example, cutting away flange 14 (or flange 44) along one entire end of the box, with the remainder of the flange extending continuously around the box.

We claim:

1. A box construction comprising: a continuous wall member having at least two parallel oppositely disposed straight sides; first and second flanges extending laterally and inwardly from the edges of said wall member; a first panel member surrounded by said wall member; resilient locating means between said flanges for holding said first panel member against said first flange, and a second flexible panel member inserted between said locating means and said second flange with a portion of said second panel member overlapping said second flange at one end of the box construction, 

1. A box construction comprising: a continuous wall member having at least two parallel oppositely disposed straight sides; first and second flanges extending laterally and inwardly from the edges of said wall member; a first panel member surrounded by said wall member; resilient locating means between said flanges for holding said first panel member against said first flange, and a second flexible panel member inserted between said locating means and said second flange with a portion of said second panel member overlapping said second flange at one end of the box construction, said second flange being relieved adjacent to the said one end of the box construction at oppositely disposed locations along the parallel straight sides of said wall member to accommodate the aforesaid insertion of said second panel member.
 2. The box construction claimed in claim 1 wherein at least one of said panel members is transparent.
 3. The box construction as claimed in claim 1 further characterized by an article-supporting member secured at opposite ends of said locating means, the said article-supporting member being spaced laterally from each of said panel members. 